Sunday, April 10, 2011

It Came From Space: The Shikkáyi

Shikkáyi
Planet of origin:unknown

No. Enc.: 1-4

Alignment: Inimical

Move: 180' (60')

Fly: 240’ (80’)

Armor Class: 0

Hit Dice: 10

Attacks: 2 or 3 (see below)

Damage: 2-12

Morale: 12

The Shikkáyi are an inimical and parasitic alien race. They appear as a large bloated gray gas bag containing a shockingly human-like eye with numerous thin and fibrous tentacles stemming from the sac. They were first encountered on Mars by ancient Terran explorers. Similar creatures, including unintelligent, degenerate or un-evolved sub-species have been found on scattered worlds throughout known space and it is believed that the creature ranged across this region of the galaxy in the very distant past.

The Shikkáyi appear to possess a form of high intellect that is very different from that of most known sapients. They do not seem to possess their own technology but will adapt and utilize the science of other races in a form of technological parasitism. It was on Ancient Mars that they first adopted partial, modified human bodies for use as mounts or hosts by infiltrating genetic laboratories, enslaving the human technicians and growing these modi-bodies in the gene vats. A Shikkáyi can separate from its modi-body at will; however doing so will cause extreme trauma to the host and leave it a breathing piece of brainless meat.

They also frequently added cymek improvements to the modi-bodies such as integrated ray weaponry and the replacement of feet with contra-gravitic field generators.

The Shikkáyi are poorly understood but it is clear that they are allies to none and enemies to all. They seek to make modi-body slaves of every species they encounter. It has been reported that in at least one instance, the Shikkayi have attempted to convert an ahoggya into a modi-body mounting four of the Shikkayi linked into a powerful, quadruple gestalt. It produced a dreadful abomination capable of unleashing a massive anti-psychic field that blasted minds, crashed robot brains, purged computers, and disabled all mentaliks within range. It is feared that these horrid things might one day learn how to focus this anti-psychic effect into some sort of directed weapon.

As might be expected, there is great variability in these, fortunately, rare alien monsters. A typical specimen is shown.It attacks three times per round, once with its own tentacles, once with an alien melee weapon that delivers a powerful electrical discharge and once with its scourge-weapon, a devolved and stunted Káyi modified to serve as a living weapon. The tentacles of the Shikkáyi and Káyi deliver 2-12 damage on hit. Additionally, there is a 75% chance that the tentacles will attach to the victim doing 2-12 hit points damage and draining one experience level per round until removed.

Reviews

Blurbs

"Humanspace Empires is a pulp science fiction game set in the space opera "pre-history" of Prof. M.A.R. Barker's classic fantasy world of Tekumel...[with] a rules engine that implements the best aspects of the original fantasy role playing system and Empire of the Petal Throne..."

"Humanspace Empires is the best upcoming Science Fantasy project on the net. Forget Stars Without a Number, embrace your Sub-atomic Disintegrator Rifle and go shoot some motherfucking demon in the outer space!!"

"If you have run—and loved—an older edition of D&D than you will be completely comfortable running this system ... closer in spirit to the simple, pre-TSR OD&D variant Empire of the Petal Throne than the published one."

"A better one for the OSR: playing What If… with the original games. Humanspace Empires is what if with MAR Barker’s Empire of the Petal Throne, earlier in the timeline of that game and focused on the space opera aspects of the setting."

"This setting is like a combo of star wars, star trek, & dune on acid mixed with influences of old fashioned pulp in a blender with the setting on high mix! Got that! Its that good & this is only the playtest version!"